Bedmaking device



March 29, 1960 R. w. NOWELS 2,930,053

BEDMAKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jew-#420 WA; was;

INVENTOR'.

BY fiuw 77.

March 29, 1960 R. w. NOWELS 2,930,053

BEDMAKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 &s .B/CHABb WwagQ, INVENTOR.

BEDMAKING DEVICE Richard W. Nowels, Anaheim, Calif. Application January22, 1959, Serial No. 788,347

8 Claims. (Cl. -320) This invention relates to household bedmakingdevices and particularly to manually controlled mechanism forautomatically drawing the bed covering neatly about the mattress.

The average housewife spends perhaps thirty minutes per day in makingbeds. A critical part of the operation is pulling the bed covers to ataut position so as to present a neat appearance. It is necessary topull the covers from both sides of the bed, from the bottom end of thebed, and possibly also from the top end of the bed. In accomplishingthis phase of the job the housewife is required to do a greatdeal ofwalking about the bed, and also a considerable amount of bending over.Lifting the heavy mattress in order to tuck covers under the mattressedge is the cause of many back-aches for the housewife.

Most of the time and etfort which the housewife spends in making beds iswasted, since the work is routine and does not result in the creation ofnew economic wealth. It is the purpose of the present invention torelieve the housewife of as much of the task as possible, by providingan inexpensive mechanical bed-making device.

In order to establish the bed covering in a taut position so as topresent a well-made appearance, applicants device automatically insuresproper pull from a plurality of positions.

Applicants device utilizes a plurality of pull cords removably attachedto the edge of sheets, blankets,

spreads, etc. A plurality of fixed guide means are provided for the pullcords, to insure proper direction of pull and the drawing of the bedcovering neatly about the mattress.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide an inexpensive,manually-actuated device for automatically positioning bed covers in atight, tucked-in position so as to present a well-made appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical bed-makingdevice which will relieve the housewife of countless hours ofunproductive labor.

" An additional object of the invention is to provide a device wherebykicked-out covers may be automatically re-tucked into place by the bedoccupant merely by flipping a switch.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bed coveringpull-cord arrangement that will rapidly return an unmade bed covering toa tight, tucked-in position and well-made appearance.

' A further object of the invention is to provide guide means fixedlypositioned on top of a bed spring near the outer edges thereof that willinsure proper actuation of bed covering pull cords or wires.

Still another object of the invention is to provide manually controlledrapid operating mechanism for drawing bed covers to a neat position bymeans of radially disposed pull cords or wires passing through anunder-bed device.

Qther objects will appear when taken in connection ice with the attachedspecifications and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the top of the box spring taken on line 2-2of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a pull cord and guide tube takenon line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective showing the operation of the guidetube, pull cord and clamping mechamsm;

Figure 5 is a sectional view partially broken away taken on the line5--5 of Figure 1; y

Figure 6 is an enlarged partial elevational view of the pulley drive andfrictional mounting; and

Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the top of the bed mattress and boxspring showing the inventionadapted for use with sheets and blankets.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the invention hasbeen applied to a standard bed frame 10. supported by four legs 11 andattached rollers 12.

A box spring B is conventional in all regards except with respect to acentrally disposed flared flexible tube that will be described later. 7

A mattress M is disposed on the box spring B and in this instance for aclear disclosure of the invention, the mattress M is shown covered witha conventional contour sheet 13. To simplify the disclosure, applicantsnovel mechanism has been shown in connection with the top sheet,although it is obvious that any bed covering or bed clothes arrangementwouldmerely require additional pull cords and guide tubes. V

A plurality of pull cords 14 are radially disposed from an undermattress control position to points adjacent the outer edge of theundersurface of the mattress. A bed covering clamp 15 is secured to theend of each of thepull cords 14 and grasps the edges of a top sheet 16as clearly shown in Figure 2.

Surrounding each pull cord 14 is a radially disposed tubular guide17which may be of flexible construction. The outer end of each of theguides has a grommet 18 attached thereto and the grommet 18 has a sewnor other type connection'19 with the box spring B. If an eye is usedinstead of a tube, the eye may be rigidly attached to the top of the boxspring. 7 e

The use of a parachute-type nylon cord and plastic tubularcoveriscontemplated, but other materials having similar characteristicsmay be provided.

A tube 20 flared at either end is disposed centrally of the box spring Bin any manner desired and the plural pull cords 14 projecting fromplural inner ends 21 of the tubular guides 17 pass downwardlytherethrough and are: secured to a series of small pulleys 22. e t Thepulleys 22 are actuated by electric motor driven gear mechanism Gcomprising the following elements. An electric motor 23 is controlled bya conventional spring loaded switch 24. Although the details of the.electrical circuit are not shown, motor 23 runs in only one direction,being therdirection such as to tighten the pull cords. Motor 23 has aworm. 25 that drives a worm gear 26 secured to the outer endof ahorizontally disposed drive shaft 27. The drive shaft 27 is supported.in dual bearings 28 and 29 respectively and the bearings 28 and 29 arefixedly secured at wand 31 respectively to a power transmissionsupporting frame 32'elev'ated. slightly on plural supports or legs 33.

A worm 34 disposed intermediate the ends of drive 'shaft 27 engages aworm gear 34a pivotally supported in .to .a groupof multipleverticalshort stub shafts 38-10 3 tatably mounted in a series of hubs 39 securedon the upper face'of theframe 32.

A plurality of helical compression springs 40 urge multiple frictionwashers 40a against the under faces of corresponding-onesof the pulleys22. Thepulleys 22 are rotatably mounted, although frictionally held, onthe-stub shafts 38 and a series of upper washers 41 and nuts 42threadedly secure the pulleys orspools 22 operatively on the shafts 38.

Sheets 16 are sometimes provided with a peripheral series of reinforcingstrips 43 for the clamps 15as'shown in Figure 4. Such reinforcing stripsmay alsobe provided on-blankets or other bed coverings. reinforcingstrips is to prevent wear and tear on coverings, and also to show theoperator where to apply'clamps when a clean covering is placed onthebed.

In-Figure 7 of the drawings, an obvious modification of applicantsguided pull cords is schematically shown. In this view, the additionalintermittently disposed clamping-pull cords 14 and the tubular guides 17are shown attached to one or more blankets or quilts 44 or other bedcoverings and accoutrements. Such arrangement was.

described previously in a general manner.

The operation of the unique device is simple. The frictional mountingofpulleys or spools 22 permits the bed occupant to open the bed covering,enter the bed, and arrange coverings thereafter as desired. Movementof-the occupant operates to pull the clamped cords 14 outwardly throughthe tubular guides 17 and thus slip the frictionally'mounted arrangerpulleys 22.

When it isdesired to re-make the bed after the occupant arises, or totighten covers while an occupant isinthe bed, springloaded switch 24 istripped and power transmitted through the gear mechanism rotates thepulleys 22. Winding of the pull cords 14 on the pulleys 22 draws thesheet-attached clamps 15 toward the fixed ends of the tubular guides 17and therefore draws the bed coverings to their desired tight, tucked-in,neat and unwrinkled position. The clamps 15 were manually attached tosheet 16 in the first instance. The tubes 17 (or eyes, if such are used)are so positioned as to properly guide the pull cords 14, and they alsooperate as stops to prevent excessive tightening of the sheets 16 orother covers.

The slip friction mounting of the pulleys 22 automatically insuressubstantially equal tightening of the pull cords 14, and also allows forunequal travel distances of various cords or wires to bring disarrangedcovers into a symmetrical position upon the bed. If the spring loadedswitch is held down for an extensive period, the pulleys or spools 22merely slip on the stub shafts 38 and no harm is done.

The present invention may be utilized with beds of any size, and alsowith cribs. It is not necessary that a box spring be used, for theinvention can be adapted to any type of spring.

It will be noted that since the guide tubes, eyes, or other guide meansare attached to the spring, the mattress may be turned over from time totime in the approved conventional manner without interference from theinvention. The travel of the pull cord ends will, in general,

be from six inches inside the mattress edge to two or three feetoutside, although these values are not critical.

Obviously other types of power or hand-operated tightening mechanism maybe used in the same way, and my description in specific detail of thepresent embodiment of the invention will suggest to those skilledin theart various changes, substitutions, simplifications and other departuresfrom the disclosure that properly lie within the scope and spirit of'theappended claims.

What I claim. is:

1. A bedmakiug device for positioning the bedcovers on a bed mattresswhich is superimposed, upon a bed spring, comprising: a plurality ofguide mean,s;.mounted:

im fixed circumferentially spaced. positions upon:v the bed The purposeof the spring; a plurality of pull cords slidably supported incorresponding onesof said guide means, each of said pull ciated guidemeans.

2. A bed making device for positioning the bed covers on a bed mattresswhich is superimposed upon a bed spring, comprising; a plurality oftubular guide means mounted in fixed spaced positions upon the bedspring; a plurality of pull cords slidably supported in correspondingones of said guide means, each of said pull cords having attachmentmeans provided thereon for releasably grasping a bed cover edge; andmechanical means cooperatively associated with all of said pull cordsfor pulling same to a position in which each attachment means isimmediately adjacent its associated guide means.

3. A bed making device for positioning the bed covers' on a bed mattresswhich is superimposed upon a bed spring, comprising: a plurality oftubular guide means mounted in fixed radially spaced positions upon thebed spring; a plurality of pull cords slidably supported incorresponding ones of said guide means, each of said pull cords havingattachment meansprovided on its outer end for releasably grasping a bedcover edge; and mechanical means cooperatively associated with all ofsaid pull cords: for pulling same to a position in which each attachmentmeans is immediately adjacent the outer end of the associated tubularguide means.

4. A bed making device for positioningthe bed covers on a" bed mattresswhich is superimposed upon a bed spring, comprising: a plurality ofguide means mounted in fixed circumferentially spaced positions upon thebed spring; a plurality of pull cords slidably supported incorresponding ones of said guide means, each of ,said pull cords havingattachment means provided thereon for releasablygraspinga bed coveredge; and mechanical means. cooperatively associated with all of saidpull cords and actuable for pulling same to a position in which eachattachment means is immediately adjacent its associated guide means,said mechanical means being also actuable for releasing said pull cordsto extended positions.

5. A bed making device for positioning the bed covers on -a bed mattresswhich is superimposed upon, a bed. spring, comprising: a plurality ofguide means mounted. 1n fixed circumferentially spaced'positions uponthe .bed.

spring; a plurality of pull cords slidably supported in correspondingones of said guide means, each of said pull,

cords having attachment means provided thereon for releasably grasping abed cover edge; mechanical means cooperatively associated with all ofsaid pull cords for pulling all of said cords simultaneously to aposition in which each attachment means is immediately adjacent itsassociated guide means; and means for releasing said pull cords toextended positions.

6. A bed making device for positioning the bed covers onv a bed mattresswhich is superimposed upon a bed spring, comprising: a plurality ofguide means mounted in fixed circumferentially spaced positions upon thebed spring; a plurality of pull cords slidably supported incorresponding ones of said guide means, each of said pull cords havingattachment means provided thereon for releasably grasping a bed coveredge; and mechanical means cooperatively associated with all of saidpull cords for pulling sameto a positionin which each attachment'rneansis immediately adjacent its associated guide means, said mechanicalmeans including a separate pulley for controlling each of said pullcords.

7. A bed making device for positioning the bed covers on a bed mattresswhich is superimposed upon a bed spring,-;comprising: a plurality oftubular guide means,

radially mounted in fixed circumferentially spaced positions.upon-thebedspriug; a plurality of-pull cords slidably supported incorresponding ones of said guide means, each of said pull cords havingan outer end and attachment means provided thereon for releasablygrasping a bed cover edge; a vertically disposed duct extending throughthe central portion of the bed spring structure, the inner ends of allof said pull cords passing through said duct and extending underneaththe bed spring structure; and mechanical means cooperatively associatedwith the inner ends of all of said pull cords for simultaneously pullingall of said cords to a position in which each attachment means isimmediately adjacent the outer end of its associated guide means.

8. A bed making device for use with. a bed frame, a spring and mattress,comprising: multiple clamp-attached pull cords disposed beneath themattress and-extending radially from a central point; surrounding fixedtubular members for said pull cords guiding the bed covering to a tautposition upon Withdrawal'of said cords; means for directing the innercentral ends of said pull cords through the spring; and power drivenmechanism for withdrawing said pull cords to re-position the bedcovering in its taut position when desired, said mechanism including aseries of pulleys connected to said pull cords, a gear transmissionhaving gear means for driving said pulleys, a motor, and slippingmountings for said pulleys permitting extension of said pull cords asdesired, said motor being actuable only in one direction for Withdrawingsaid pull cords.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

